Dispensing-receptacle for paste, &amp;c.



L. H. BALLOU. DISPENSING RECEPTFICLE FOR PASTE, 8L0.

APPLICATION FILED OCT 2 19H Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

M (/[NVENTOR WITNESSES LEON 'H. IBALLOU, or Loom-om, new YORK.

DISPENSING-RECEPTACTaE FOR PASTE, 8w.

To all whom/it ma concern:

Beit known t at I, LEON H. BALLoU,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Lockpurt, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Dispensing-Receptacles for Paste, &c., of which the following is a specification.

The most important object of the present inventionis to provide a compressible tube,

or other suitable receptacle, of the kind com-- monly employed for tooth pastes, powders,

paints, etc., having meanswhereby its contents may be most effectively preserved against deterioration and most readily and economicallydispensed. In accordance with this object I have provided, as clearly shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating what is now regarded to be the most desirable form' of the invention, a compressible receptacle having a recoiling cut-off for the outlet, whereby when the receptacle is compressed, the pressure thereby exerted on its.

contents will be communicated by the latter to the cut-ofl' member and will cause said member to move and uncover the outlet, and

thereby permit dischargeof the contents through said outlet; and when said pressure on the contents ceases, the cut-off member will automatically return to its former posi-v tion and close the outlet and force the contents from the vicinity of the outlet back into the receptacle. I shall describe this particular form of the invention in detail,

but it is to be understood that it is regarded to be the best andmost highly desirable and an important form and application of the 7 present invention and that changes may be made in the construction and correlation of parts, and the invention in its brpad aspects may be variously embodied without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the broader claims hereof.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views :Figure 1 is aview in side elevation of the invention a ready for use. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the invention ready for shipment. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View enlarged of a fragment of the invention showing the v cut-off member in one position. Fig. 4: is a similar view showmg the cut-off member in another position and Fig. 5 1s a transverse sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

The numeral 1 designates a preferably Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 21, 1915. 1 Application filed October 2, 1911. Serial No. osasss.

cylindrical body portion of the receptacle, having its lower flattened end closed, as shown. This body portion is readily compressible, the same being formed of flexible material, such as sheet lead or the like, as iscustomary. The opposite end of the body portion is provided with a relatively rigid contracted neck 3, which extends centrally and axially of the body portion. This contracted neck 3 is provided nearand spaced from its lower end with a lateral discharge opening 2, adapted to register with an opening 4 formed through an outer cap 5. The cap 5 has/screw-threaded engagement with the contracted neck 5, or otherwise suitably mounted thereon. When the cap, which constitutes a closure for the open endof the when pressure is applied to the contents of the receptacle, the contents will be dispensed through said openings. It is thus seen that means are provided to prevent the accidental rotation of the cap 5, when the openingsv2 and 4 are in registration, for discharging the contents of the receptacleor tube. When the receptacle is ready for shipment, the cap-5 is turned slightly as illustrated in Fig. 2 to offset the openings 2 and 4t and thereby prevent discharge of the contents due to pressure being accidentally exerted upon the contents as from careless handling, dropping, or otherwise.

Within the bore of the contracted neck is slidably arranged a cutoff plunger or valve 8 which is preferably cup-shaped. This plunger is movable axially in the neck across the outlet opening 2 thereof with its closed end arranged lowermost, and fits sufficiently snugly within the bore of the neck to prevent any appreciable amount of the contents from finding its way between the plunger and neck. It is provided with a coil-spring 9 for holding it yieldably in its outlet-closing position and for returning itto said position when pressure on the contents of the receptacle ceases. This coil-spring 9 is secured at its upper and lower ends to the interior faces of the cap 5 and cut-0H plunger or valve 8, respectively, preferably by with in the casing or tube. As is well known,

when the material, such as tooth paste or the like, is discharged fromthe receptacle oi tube in any considerable amount, the lower end of the tube is fiattened and generally folded or rolled up whereby the material therein completely lills the remaining part of the tube. By this means, the plun er or valve 8 is generally subjected to su 'cient pressure from the contentsof the tube, to permanently retain the spring 9 slightly compressed, whereby the same exerts a permanent yielding ressiire upon the cap 5 to prevent its acci ental rotation, when the openings 2 and 4 are out of registration. By virtue of the central axial location of the neck 3, the tube may be readily filled by removing the cap 5, spring 9, and plunger or valve 8.-

In use, the receptacle is received from shipment with the neck-opening 2 and capopening 4 not alined, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The cap 5 is first. turned to aline said openings with each other. The receptacle will then appear as illustrated in Fig. 1. When pressure is applied to the body 1, the contents thereof will be forced into the neck 3, forcing ahead the spring cut-ofi plunger or valve 8 to the position illustrated in Fig. 3.

The outlet openings 2 and 4 are now uncovered by the said plunger and the flow of the contents unobstructed. When a sufiicient quantity of the contents has been dispensed, pressure is discontinued on the body and the cut-off plunger immediately recoils automatically, the spring returning it to its normal position closing the outlet ports 2 and 4: as illustrated in Fi 4.

The spring 9 is of su cient strength to move the contents bodily back into the receptacle body 1 when external pressure on the body is discontinued, yet, when such pressure is applied the spring must give way, under the pressure of the contents.

It will be noted that the cut-ofl plunger or valve is free to turn with the screw cap 5, while the latter is being adjusted to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, or being entirely removed, as well as applied to the neck 3. It will also be observed that the lower portion of the cutoff plunger is in a lower plane than the lower edge of the cap, thereby permitting a considerable range of movement of the cap on the neck before the outlet ports are exposed.

One of the important advantages of the invention lies in the fact that, when it is desired to dispense some of the contents of the receptacle, the cap does not have to be 'Again, as soon as this pressure ceases, the

cut-off lunger automatically recoils to close the out et and prevent loss of-the contents and deterioration due to exposure to the atmosphere.

having now described-my invention what I believe to be new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a receptacle of the character described, the combination with afiexible tube adapted to be readily collapsed by external pressure to compress material therein, of a substantiall rigid neck connected with one end of the exible tube and provided with a lateral discharge, opening, a cup-shaped valve fitting snugly within the neck to prevent the passage of material between the same and the inner wall of the neck and longitudinally movably mounted therein to cover and uncover the lateral discharge opening and having its closed end arranged lowermost, an outer cap rotatably mounted upon the neck with a lateral opening to be moved into and out of registration wlth the first named discharge opening, and a coil spring disposed between the cap and cupscribed, the combination with a flexible tube,

of a substantially rigid neck connected with one end of the tube and provided with an exterior shoulder and a lateral discharge opening, an outer cap having screw threaded engagement with the neck and provided with a lateral discharge opening which is so located that it is brought into registration with the first named discharge opening when said cap is screwed down to have clamping engagement with the exterior shoulder, a cup-shaped valve fittin snugly within the neck and slidable therein to cover and uncover the 'first named discharge opening, said valve being arranged with its closed end innermost, and a coil spring disposed between and having its ends attached to the heads of the cap and cup-shaped valve.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEON H; BALLOU. 

